Summer means one thing for many people: festival season. From music festivals and food fairs to Pride events, county shows and outdoor concerts, there’s something happening almost every weekend. And ya’ll know I love me a good event! I have had amazing experiences and not so great times, sometimes it feels like a bit of a lottery as to whether an event has truly put thought into accessibility, or whether it is a tick box exercise to do the bear minimum.

Like everyone else, disabled people want to enjoy these experiences. We want to sing along to our favourite bands, eat overpriced street food, browse craft stalls, laugh with friends and make memories. We don’t want to spend weeks worrying about whether we’ll actually be able to get through the entrance, use the toilet or see the stage. We don’t want the pre-event admin of dealing with our access needs, yet we know that to be able to do all the things we enjoy, we’ll need to be planning ahead and using time and energy to check up on the event.

I love festivals but the disability admin is real, and so I created an Accessibility Festival and Event checklist that you can download and add your own points to try and make life a little easier for you and remove a tiny bit of the disability admin that takes up so much of our time and energy.

You can view and download my free Accessible Festival and Event Checklist below.

Disability Admin

If you’re disabled, you know that booking an event often feels like planning a military operation. Whether you have physical access requirements or are neurodivergent or have any additional needs.

Before buying a ticket, we’re checking maps, reading access statements, emailing organisers, asking about parking, wondering whether the accessible toilet is actually accessible and trying to work out if the viewing platform will allow us to see anything other than the backs of other people’s heads. We are filling our access forms and thinking about if we need a PA for the event, we are putting in the work that non-disabled people don’t have to think about.

For many non-disabled people, attending an event is exciting. It is planning your outfit and your schedule of which bands you want to see and organising with friends.

For many disabled people, it’s exhausting before we’ve even left the house.

One thing I’d love to see improve is consistency. Some festivals are absolutely brilliant. Others still seem to treat accessibility as an afterthought, as though adding a single accessible toilet and a ramp somewhere near the entrance is enough. Accessibility isn’t just about wheelchair users.

It’s about people with chronic illnesses who need somewhere to sit, people with stomas who need quick access to clean toilets, Deaf people needing interpreters or captioning, visually impaired visitors needing clear information, neurodivergent people who benefit from quieter spaces, people with fatigue who simply can’t walk miles across uneven fields without somewhere to rest and many others.

Disability isn’t one-size-fits-all, and accessibility shouldn’t be either. I once read that being fully accessibility is a myth, as what works for one disabled person causes a barrier to another. I get that it is tough to support the needs of thousands of people at once but what we do want, is an understanding that our needs, like us, are unique and so solutions may vary. There may not be a solution that works within the limits of an event, but event organiser can and should be listening to our needs and concerns.

Weather Woes

Then there’s the weather. Because, let’s face it, this is Britain. Whilst a rainy day or a heatwave may be an inconvenience to some, for many disabled people, it is a huge barrier that isn’t just ruining your eyeliner or getting your trainers dirty, it can be life threatening.

Mud, uneven ground and heavy rain can quickly turn what looked like an accessible venue on paper into an obstacle course. Organisers can’t control the weather, but they can think ahead by providing temporary pathways, clear signage, additional seating and well-trained staff who know how to support disabled visitors when conditions change.

A heatwave affects everyone, but some disabled people with certain conditions can become very unwell, very quickly on a blazing hot day. It is vital that they have shade, fluids and medical support available. It is also important to know that some medications react badly in the sun, for example certain antidepressants, including SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and SNRIs (serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors) can affect how the body responds to heat. These include medications such as sertraline, citalopram, fluoxetine, and paroxetine. Antidepressants can increase sweating, which in hot weather raises the risk of dehydration.

The best accessibility feature at any event isn’t necessarily a ramp or a viewing platform. It’s people. A steward who listens instead of questioning your disability, a volunteer who knows where the accessible entrance is, a member of staff who asks, “How can I help?” instead of making assumptions.

Thankfully, accessibility has improved over the years. Many festivals now offer accessible viewing platforms, Changing Places toilets, companion tickets, sensory spaces, accessible camping and detailed access guides. Following action by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, some of the UK’s biggest festival organisers have also committed to improving accessibility, staff training and access information after disabled festival-goers highlighted serious barriers in previous years. Take a look at Attitude is Everything who rate festivals and give a rating to events so we can see who is actually making a difference!

The Purple Pound

There is a strong business case for making events more accessible. Disabled people and their households represent what’s often referred to as the Purple Pound; the spending power of disabled consumers and their families, which is estimated to be worth hundreds of billions of pounds to the UK economy each year.

When an event gets accessibility right, it’s not just disabled people who benefit; they’re also welcoming friends, partners, children and carers who are likely to attend alongside them. On the other hand, if an event has a reputation for poor accessibility, many disabled people simply won’t book, and neither will the people who would have come with them. Inclusive events attract a wider audience, encourage repeat visits, generate positive word of mouth and demonstrate that everyone is genuinely welcome. Accessibility shouldn’t be seen as an expense; it’s an investment that benefits both visitors and organisers alike.

I have supported festivals with Accessibility Audits, helping them to see their event through the eyes of a disabled person, from the website through to the application process for Access needs, going through site plans and looking at what they can do better. It is really important that events seek the life experience and skills of disabled people in the planning process, not just take guesses, or just tick the ‘bare minimum’ box.

Accessibility at Festivals and Events Benefits Everyone

The reality is that accessibility benefits everyone. Parents pushing buggies appreciate smooth paths. Older visitors appreciate extra seating. People recovering from injuries benefit from step-free access. Clear signage helps everyone find their way.

Good accessibility isn’t about giving disabled people special treatment, it’s about making sure everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the event. It is levelling the playing field and removing barriers.

As someone living with chronic illness and an ileostomy, I know how much planning goes into leaving the house, never mind attending a crowded outdoor event. Sometimes I decide it’s simply too much, and that’s okay. Other times, good accessibility makes all the difference and allows me to say yes to experiences I might otherwise have missed.

Progress is happening, and it’s important to acknowledge that.

But accessibility should never be viewed as a bonus feature or a box to tick.

It should be woven into every stage of planning, from ticket sales and websites to toilets, transport, food vendors and emergency procedures. Under the Equality Act 2010, event organisers have a duty to anticipate and make reasonable adjustments for disabled people, rather than waiting until problems arise.

Because disabled people don’t want special treatment.

We just want the same chance as everyone else to enjoy a great day out.

Don’t forget to view and download my free Accessible Festival and Event Checklist above.

Let me know in the comments or over on Instagram and Facebook about your festival and event experiences. Have you attended a festival or event where accessibility was amazing? Or have you had an experience that left you feeling excluded?

Share your experiences and let’s celebrate the events getting it right and keep encouraging those that still have room to improve.

Peace & Love

Sam xx